Category Archives: Shoe Care

I recently asked the staff of vcleat.com to put article ideas in our office suggestion box. I wasn’t sure I would get any ideas but if I did, perhaps there would be some gold there. When I opened the suggestion box today, I found two article suggestions and pulled them out. Suggestion number one: “Clowns”. … Continue reading Florsheim 20305 Rambler→

“Your blog is an entry drug for vintage shoes”. That’s been my favorite comment that I have received since starting this blog. Well, here is another hit. Not that I am advocating drug use. Just shoes. Although pot use is legal here in Seattle. As it is in many places. Which still surprises me at … Continue reading Florshiem Imperial 93606 PTB Shell Cordovan Restore→

I have been travelling much of the last couple of weeks. First to Cleveland (work) and then to San Francisco (friends). Travel gives me time to ponder major issues such as these: • When are the airlines going to start charging for soft drinks? • What kind of “duty” am I free from on that … Continue reading Florsheim 30679 Varsity Restore→

If you read this blog regularly, you will have noticed that I have remained silent on which candidate I will support in the US Presidental general election. Its not that I am without knowledge on the candidates because I do briefly scan a few headlines in the news between my sessions searching shoes on eBay. … Continue reading Florsheim Royal Imperial 97604 Restore→

There have been a few occasions when I open a mailing box and my first thought is “gross”. This was one of those times. These were the state of the shoes when I received them. Sometimes underneath the dirt and grim is a good pair of shoes. And sometimes not. But in this case, the … Continue reading Allen Edmonds MacNeil Shell Cordovan 9187 Restore→

While we in the USA all obsess (and riot), about who will be the next President (Game of Thrones can barely compete with Trump/Clinton/Sanders), I am keeping myself focused on an even more important topic – vintage men’s shoes. I recently acquired a pair of Freeman shoes from (surprise) eBay. It’s my first pair manufactured … Continue reading Freeman Bootmaker Guild Long Wing Blucher→

It’s time to make this blog GREAT AGAIN. Donald: Melania, I need my Allen Edmonds Park Avenues. The black shoes Melania: Of course they are. Except for my soles. Donald: No, my shoes Melania: You do not have Louboutin Donald: Nevermind. Paul Ryan. He is so IRRELEVANT. He can’t stop us from making America GREAT … Continue reading French Shriner Collegians Restore→

I could comment on the crazy US Presidential Primaries but instead I am going to focus on shoes. Which is both easy and hard because I want to talk about politics. But I won’t. Instead I will continue on my quest to be the Nate Silver of Made in USA, vintage men’s dress shoes from … Continue reading Nettleton Algonquin Strip Down→

Happy Super Bowl Sunday. And congrats to the Broncos. This morning I was actually worried that the local grocery store would close early but then I remembered that today wasn’t an actual US holiday. It only seems that way. This post is about trying to restore a sad pair of Florsheim Imperial Shell Cordovan PTBs. … Continue reading Stripping Wax from Shell Cordovan→

Short story: wipe the shoes with a damp cloth, follow with Venetian Shoe Cream and buff with a soft, cotton cloth. I have tried a number of methods and I have found this to have the best results. The longer story is about my search for a pair Crown Aristocraft wingtip shoes. Crown Aristocraft have … Continue reading Caring for Bookbinder/Corrected Grain Leather→